Few people trying to politicise Tipu Jayanti, says CM Siddaramaiah

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday said some people are trying to politicise Tipu Jayanti celebrations and disturb peace, as he directed the police to take strict measures to maintain law and order.

He had convened a meeting of senior police and Home Department officials to discuss about the law and order maintenance in the wake of Tipu Jayanti on November 10.

The Congress government's decision to observe the birth anniversary of Tipu Sultan, 18th century ruler of erstwhile Mysuru kingdom, has stirred a major row, with opinion sharply divided among intellectuals, academia and various communities and organisations, which have differing views on his reign.

BJP and RSS have been strongly opposing the event, being celebrated since last year, which had triggered a major row and caused violence in Madikeri and parts of coastal districts in November last year.

"Few people are trying to politicise Tipu Jayanti. They are trying to take political mileage out of it, and are also trying to disturb peace in the society. Such forces should not be given any opportunity," the Chief Minister's office said quoting Siddaramaiah.

The Chief Minister, who took stock of measures taken by the police department, has asked them to maintain law and order "efficiently".

Asking police to arrest anti-social elements as a precautionary measure, he told them to maintain strict vigil on those involving in instigation and provocations.

Also directing Deputy Commissioners of the districts to be present at their respective headquarters during the Jayanti, Siddaramaiah asked senior police officials to monitor bandobust by being present on the spot.

Tipu Jayanti celebrations have been opposed by various communities in several parts of the state like Kodagu, Chitradurga, coastal districts, alleging that their community had faced "atrocities and hardships" during his reign.

The issue of Tipu jayanti had even reached the High Court, which on November 3 had disposed a PIL challenging celebration by the state government, but directed the petitioner to make a representation to the state Chief Secretary to consider the objections raised against the eventand pass an order by November 8.

The order by a two-member division bench headed by Chief Justice Subrho Kamal Mukherjee had come a day after it questioned the government on the logic behind celebrating Tipu Jayanti observing that he wasn't a freedom fighter, but a monarch who fought to safeguard his interests.

BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa has said that the party will hold state wide agitation on November 8 against Tipu Jayanti celebrations and killing of party and Sangh parivar activists in the state.